1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Best Shower heads for MAC

Posted by kathyhg @kathyhg, Mar 18, 2019

I've been reading about shower heads and it seems that many are bad for growing bacteria. One mentioned on another forum was called The Original Chrome Shower Head by Shower Clear. It is very expensive and wondering if anyone has experience with this or others that might be good.
Thanks,

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 15, 2019
In reply to @sueinmn "Hi Terri - Yes, I read the study you cited, as well as several others. Still..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Hi Terri - Yes, I read the study you cited, as well as several others. Still not convinced we can avoid MAC through any water supply because it is so ubiquitous - one small, older study even found it in bottled water! We have raised our water heater temp, because that is the one universal recommendation that makes sense to me.
And, it doesn't make sense that our home is the nexus of my infection - my husband, who soaks in our whirlpool & showers "by the hour" also has bronchiectasis, and he repeatedly tests negative for MAC.

Jump to this post

@sueinmn I think it is safe to say that not every household in America is going to have mac in it's plumbing. Some people may have picked it up visiting relatives, staying in a resort, or using a hot tub, or other places. I feel like my present home does not have mac in the water. I have been mac free since I moved here. I could be wrong, but I take pre-cautions as if it is here. The water temp was raised on the hot water tank, we put reverse osmosis filters under the sink and change filters regularly. I soak my showerhead in vinegar every six months. I just do not want to live in paranoid fear.

REPLY
Jane S. Brown | @macjane | Apr 17, 2019
In reply to @pfists "@windwalker888 That article on MAC colonizing predominately in bathrooms and mostly showerheads is very interesting. I..." + (show)
@pfists

@windwalker888
That article on MAC colonizing predominately in bathrooms and mostly showerheads is very interesting. I will soak mine in vinigar much more often
I use a "hand" shower head and use it on a rainfall setting rather than a Spray setting hoping this spray method helps.
Thanks Teri

Shari

Jump to this post

Thank you for info - very interesting. Jane

REPLY
Tina Sims | @tinaesims | Apr 17, 2019
In reply to @megan123 "Hi Suenim.....It is recommended by National Jewish Hosputal to use the Micron 0.2 filter attached to..." + (show)
@megan123

Hi Suenim.....It is recommended by National Jewish Hosputal to use the Micron 0.2 filter attached to your shower head...this prevents MAC from getting thru...Dr Falkingham, guru in MAC recommends...I just also ready a recent study done, saying that patients r likely getting reinfected in the bathroom...ie high level of MAC found in showerhead, bathroom tap, sinks bathtub water etc....I agree with slit of what you are saying as well....I tend to follow National and Mayo recommendations to extend my life as long as I can without getting crazy about things

Jump to this post

Where can you buy a Micron 0.2 filter?

REPLY
Jennifer | @megan123 | Apr 17, 2019

@tinaesims....I get my tap filters from Palls filtration system in Canada....Palls is also in the states✌️

REPLY
sayaboleh | @sayaboleh | Apr 19, 2019

This is a really interesting discussion. When I was first diagnosed in 2011 I was told that showering was not a problem but to avoid swimming and hot tubs. I agree that MAC is everywhere in the environment and not to get too concerned. Maybe shorter showers and avoid misters in Florida! I am very confused about the concept of colonization and hope someone can enlighten me. They recently found a very rare organism called S. maltophilia in my culture and tried to reassure me that it was a colonization and not an infection. So when is colonization a good thing and when is it a bad thing? I just watched Dr. Huitt's presentation and one of the ways to determine if one should treat was to count the number of colonies, the magic number being 50.
Mary

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 19, 2019
In reply to @sayaboleh "This is a really interesting discussion. When I was first diagnosed in 2011 I was told..." + (show)
@sayaboleh

This is a really interesting discussion. When I was first diagnosed in 2011 I was told that showering was not a problem but to avoid swimming and hot tubs. I agree that MAC is everywhere in the environment and not to get too concerned. Maybe shorter showers and avoid misters in Florida! I am very confused about the concept of colonization and hope someone can enlighten me. They recently found a very rare organism called S. maltophilia in my culture and tried to reassure me that it was a colonization and not an infection. So when is colonization a good thing and when is it a bad thing? I just watched Dr. Huitt's presentation and one of the ways to determine if one should treat was to count the number of colonies, the magic number being 50.
Mary

Jump to this post

@sayabola Good questions! I do not have the answer for that. One of our memebers, @deborahwolf, will be attending an NTM/MAC conference in Tx next month. Hopefully, she will come back from it with some good info.

REPLY
sayaboleh | @sayaboleh | Apr 20, 2019

@windwalker So will I. Will definitely ask some questions there. My real name is Mary. I thought it would be cute to use an obscure foreign language user name. I am rethinking that. 🙂

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Apr 20, 2019
In reply to @sayaboleh "@windwalker So will I. Will definitely ask some questions there. My real name is Mary. I..." + (show)
@sayaboleh

@windwalker So will I. Will definitely ask some questions there. My real name is Mary. I thought it would be cute to use an obscure foreign language user name. I am rethinking that. 🙂

Jump to this post

@sayabola Nice too meet you Mary.

REPLY
pinkwarrior | @pinkwarrior | Apr 21, 2019
In reply to @kathyhg "I actually splurged and bought the Shower Clear shower head that opens up to dry between..." + (show)
@kathyhg

I actually splurged and bought the Shower Clear shower head that opens up to dry between showers. It also has no rubber/plastic in the shower head except for an external rubber O ring. My thinking was that it is worth the money if it reduces my exposure to Mac, even slightly. It is solid brass, so fairly heavy, and looks very simple but well made. It was easy enough to install. No regrets about the price, considering what I spend on medications every month!

Jump to this post

Is there a certain finish that is best if I buy the Shower Clear head? I see a gold one but not a solid brass?? Thank you.

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 22, 2019
In reply to @pinkwarrior "Is there a certain finish that is best if I buy the Shower Clear head? I..." + (show)
@pinkwarrior

Is there a certain finish that is best if I buy the Shower Clear head? I see a gold one but not a solid brass?? Thank you.

Jump to this post

Without further research, I'm just remembering the site - The underlying metal in the heads is brass, the color is electroplated onto the o utside, so you can choose what matches your decor.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.